Global Aging Index: How 30 Nations Support Seniors
Author: Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health
Published: 26 Jul 2017 - Updated: 30 Aug 2026
Publication Type: Research, Study, Analysis
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content
Synopsis
This research, developed by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the University of Southern California Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics with support from The John A. Hartford Foundation, presents an evidence-based tool for evaluating how nations respond to demographic shifts in their older populations. The barometer tracks five key indicators - productivity and engagement, well-being, equity, cohesion, and security - across 30 countries, offering policymakers and researchers reliable metrics to compare national performance and identify areas needing improvement. Unlike earlier assessment tools that focused narrowly on economic factors or excluded certain developed nations, this index captures the full spectrum of social and economic conditions affecting older adults, making it particularly valuable for disability advocates, gerontologists, public health officials, and aging individuals seeking to understand which societies best support their older citizens through accessible services, financial stability, and reduced inequality.*
At a Glance
- 1 - Norway, Sweden, the United States, the Netherlands and Japan rank as the top five nations. Each reaches success through a different pathway rather than one shared formula.
- 2 - Columbia University and USC built the tool with support from The John A. Hartford Foundation. It draws on national data sources widely available for aged populations.
- 3 - John Rowe, MD, led the interdisciplinary research team behind the barometer. He warns that failing to adapt to aging risks deep intergenerational tensions.
- 4 - The United States keeps older Americans financially secure, productive and engaged despite wider problems with inequity and social cohesion. This nuance shows why single economic metrics can miss the full picture of an aging society.
Topic Definition
- Global Aging Index
A global aging index is an evidence-based measurement tool that gauges how well nations adapt to the growing number and share of older people within their populations. Rather than leaning on a single economic figure, it draws together several social and economic indicators - such as productivity and engagement, well-being, equity, cohesion, and security - so that the standing of older adults can be tracked over time and compared fairly from one country to the next. The approach gives policymakers, researchers, and older citizens a clearer view of which societies genuinely support their aging members through stable retirement income, accessible services, and reduced inequality, and it highlights where policy gaps still need attention before they harden into wider social problems.
Overview
Global Aging Index: Measuring Population Health and Equity
Researchers from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and University of Southern California Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, with the support of The John A. Hartford Foundation, have developed a new barometer that estimates how countries are adapting to the dramatic increases in the number and proportion of older persons.
The Index is composed of specific measures across five social and economic Indicators that reflect the status and wellbeing of older persons in a country and which can be followed over time and used to compare across nations.
"Now that previously unimagined numbers of older persons are living longer it is critical that we shift from our prior sole focus on the characteristics of individuals and their immediate environments to one that includes a strategy for the entire society to successfully adapt to an aging population" said John Rowe, MD, Julius B. Richmond Professor of Health Policy and Aging, Health Policy and Management at the Mailman School of Public Health, who led the interdisciplinary team of researchers.
Developed for 30 countries at the outset, the Index can track national sources of data for countries with aged populations including the United States and Western Europe. A sample analysis of the data shows that the five countries in the index coping best with their aging populations are: Norway, Sweden, the United States, the Netherlands and Japan. (See chart)
"Interestingly, the Index demonstrates that the United States - despite general problems with inequity and social cohesion - has done well in keeping older Americans financially secure, productive, and engaged," noted Dana Goldman, PhD, Distinguished Professor and Leonard D. Schaeffer Director's Chair at the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics.
The John A. Hartford Index of Societal Aging's five indicators provide new context for measuring the health of aging populations including an evidence-based metric to assess effectiveness over time and across many countries. Earlier indexes either made comparisons for a select group of industrialized nations only, sometimes excluding the U.S., were heavily weighted on economic metrics, such as late life labor force participation, did not fully capture inequalities within the advanced developed aging societies or did not measure many other characteristics of an aging society.
"The Index provides an accurate look at how well societies are adapting to this aging challenge," said Goldman. "Utilizing reliable and sensitive economic and social indicators that are widely available, the tool allows countries to take a broader view of both current conditions and likely future demographic realities."
Elements of The Hartford Index
- Productivity and Engagement - Measures connectedness within and outside the workforce.
- Well-being - Measures the state of being healthy.
- Equity - Measures gaps in well-being and economic security between the haves and have-nots.
- Cohesion - Measures across generations and social connectedness
- Security - Measures support for retirement and physical safety.
"Failure to adapt to aging is a risky strategy for a country," noted Rowe. "If we neglect to develop and implement effective policies we will be left with a society rife with intergenerational tensions, characterized by enormous gaps between the haves and the have-nots, and unable to provide needed goods and services for any of its members--especially a progressively older and more dependent population. The good news is this gloomy scenario is avoidable."
In addition to Drs. Rowe and Goldman, the Index was presented at the conference by Cynthia Chen, a postdoctoral fellow at the USC Schaeffer Center who worked on the project. Other members of the MacArthur Research Network on an Aging Society served as advisors to the project.*
* Toni Antonucci, Lisa Berkman, Axel Böersch-Supan, Frank Furstenberg, James Jackson, Martin Kohli, S. Jay Olshansky, John Rother, and Julie Zissimopoulos
Frequently Asked Questions
NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)
What is the John A. Hartford Index of Societal Aging
It is a barometer developed by Columbia University and USC that estimates how well countries adapt to rising numbers of older persons using five social and economic indicators.
How many countries does the aging index cover
The index was developed for 30 countries at the outset, focusing on nations with aged populations including the United States and Western Europe.
What are the five indicators used in the index
The five indicators are productivity and engagement, well-being, equity, cohesion, and security, each capturing a different part of older adult life.
Why does the index include more than economic measures
Earlier tools leaned heavily on economic metrics and often missed inequalities, so this index adds social measures to capture the full condition of an aging society.
How can the aging index help people with disabilities
It helps disability advocates and seniors understand which nations best provide accessible services, financial stability, and reduced inequality for older citizens.
Who funded the development of the aging index
The research was supported by The John A. Hartford Foundation and carried out by Columbia University and the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics.
Can the index be used to compare countries over time
Yes, the index tracks national data sources so its indicators can be followed over time and compared across many nations to measure progress.
Why is adapting to an aging population important
Failing to adapt risks intergenerational tension, widening gaps between rich and poor, and a reduced ability to provide goods and services for older dependents.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: As populations worldwide continue to age at unprecedented rates, the need for accurate, multidimensional assessment tools becomes increasingly urgent. This index offers more than just statistical comparison - it provides a roadmap for countries to identify policy gaps and societal shortcomings before they calcify into intergenerational conflict or economic crisis. What makes this research particularly striking is its revelation that success in supporting aging populations doesn't follow a single formula; Norway's strong social cohesion, America's economic security for seniors, and Japan's cultural integration of older citizens each represent different pathways to the same goal. For individuals with disabilities and seniors navigating healthcare systems, retirement planning, and community engagement, understanding these national rankings can inform personal decisions about where to age, which policies to advocate for, and what realistic expectations to hold for their own futures in an aging society.*
Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and published on 26 Jul 2017, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.
* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.